Salford Lads’ Club first camp took place at Llandulas in North Wales in 1904, three years before the first scout camps set up by Lord Baden Powell. The camp was held during the Whitsuntide Holiday and involved 173 Lads. The picture on the right shows a group of the younger lads at the 1904 camp.

By 1913 the size of the camps had risen to 350 lads 10 leaders and 20 tons of equipment! They Travelled by train to Liverpool and then by packet steamer to the Isle of Man.The club also held its first junior camp in 1913 at Marple.

The loss of 135 members of the club during WW1 had a devastating effect and it was 10 years before the junior camp was able to take place again. By the mid 1920s the club held camps in Hoylake, Bridlington, Harlech and Deganwy. Day trips were a regular part of the Whit week camp.The fatigue party set up the campsites well in advnce of the lads setting off from Salford.

1935 Camp

The 1930s saw the establishment of regular camps at Deganwy and Aberystwyth and by the late 1930s Aberystwyth became the main base for the Whit week holiday.

No camps were held between 1940-1946 during WW2 . The club restarted camps at both Kettleshulme and Aberystwyth in 1947.

The club camps of the 1950s and 1960s camps were popular events and still attracted as many as 140 lads in 1964.

The club membership and scale of the camps reflected the changes to the Ordsall estate in the 1970s. Many families were rehoused in different areas of Salford This led to the smaller camps of between 40 and 50 lads.

The 1980s and 1990s camps continued with numbers of around 30. The picture from 1985 shows a group of lads on the river, the boat belonged to the club and was kept at the campsite.

The club has continued camping each year including the centenary camp of 2004. The last 6 years have seen an increase in membership and a renewed interest in lads going to camp.

Lads at the 1904 camp

Llandulas 1908

Ramsey 1913

1913 Camp Card

1935 Camp

1948 Camp

1920s Camp

1970’s Camp

1985 Camp

1960 Camp

2006 and 2001 Camps

2007 Camp

Official T-Shirts!

Smiths photos

Artist prints

Salford Lads Club

Salford Lads Club was established in 1903 as a purpose built club for boys. The club has continued to provide this facility for more than 100 years and is now considered to be the ‘finest example of a pre First World War club surviving and operating today’ The club is now open to girls and boys...